127 Brunswick Street, Melbourne

Brunswick Street's SoJo (that's South of Johnston) revival is
picking up pace with the reopening this month of the Old Colonial
Inn, replete with a rooftop bar to rival nearby Naked in the
Sky.

Renamed 127 Brunswick, it's the brainchild of Vince Sofo and Paul
Adamo, owners of St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel. They're planting their
flag northside after spending the past three and a half years
revamping the derelict boozer into an almost unrecognisable
five-level venue.

"We were stuck in VCAT for a year and a half, fighting about
getting our late liquor licences for the three outdoor spaces, plus
we like to do it all ourselves," says Sofo. "We do the fit-out, the
furniture, the music. It takes time."

Featuring their signature richly detailed pop art and recycled
aesthetic, 127 Brunswick will be home to an izakaya much like their
two existing Japanese restaurants, one next to the Espy and the
other in South Yarra. Ichi Ni Nana will be headed by chef Razmy
Gaffer (ex-Nobu), while the Village People Hawker Food Hall has
recruited former Longrain chef Arte Assavakavinvong. Upside Rooftop
Bar, on top of the third floor, will have DJs and views across
Carlton to the city.

And what about the revamp of the Espy? The landmark pub has been
closed since May, with rumours of an upper-floor restaurant being
created to capitalise on the bay views. Sofo is tightlipped: "We'll
begin reopening parts of it in time for summer. Stay tuned."